Teat-cup.



D. T. SHARPLES.

THAT CUP.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.5, 19 10.

Patented Nov. 8,'1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1r D. T. SHARPLES.

TEAT CUP.

APPLIOATION FILED $153.5, 1910.

Patented Now, 1910.

`DAVID TOWNSEND ,SHARPLES 0F WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

y"liner-our.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Nov. 8, 191111.

Application filed February 5, 1910. Serial No. 542,166.

.ing inwardly and a median chamber commu-l nicating with an exterior nipple, a flexible tube disposedwithin the shell, a ring having a tapered portion which is frictionally engaged within the upper end of the flexible tube in the tapered upper seat of the shell and a nipple having -a tapered part which is frictionallyengaged within the lower endof the flexible tube in the tapered lower part of the'shell.

This teatcup is designed for milking operations where, .with the ring slipped upon the teat, variable resultant pressures, due to' pneumatic effects communicated through the nipples to the exterior and interior of the tube, cause the tube to collapse and expand intermittently. The chamber provides a constantly open space for free neumatic, action within the shell aroun the tube regardless of the position of the lati ter. The tapered seats o'f the shell with, the

devices having tapered parts telescoping therewith provide simple and efficient means for engaging and disengaging the flexible tube. The tube is of simple character so that substitutions can be readily made. The parts `are simple, durable, inexpensive and readily cleaned..

The characteristic features of my invention are fully disclosed in the accompanying drawings and the following description thereof. l l

4In the drawings, Figure lA is a sectional elevation of afteat cup 4embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectlonal View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional eleization representing' a modified form of the` constructlon, and F 'g. 4 isa sectional elevation representing a rther modification.

-1 In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer tubular shell 1, preferably made of steel, has the similar expanded ends 2, 2', providing inwardly taperin seits, and the expanded median portion forming a chamber 3', the latter extendingV around the body of the shell 4and being formed preferably by outwardly crimping or expanding thel metal. A tubular nipple 4, adapted for engagement with the air pipe has its flattened upper portion 4 connect-el e with the bottom of the chamber 3 and communicates therewith through the elongated port 3'. in the chambers bottom wal, nipple being suitably of the same material asrthe shelll and brazed to the wall thereof beneath the chamber to provide a substanvtial construction. The soft rubber tube 5,

disposed within ,the shell 1, has its upper l end' tightly engaged to the seat in the upper end of the Vshell by the ring 6 having a tapered part 6, the latter being placedwithin the tube and pressed in to press the tube end against the tapered wall or seat of the shell. The ring is adapted to be slipped on thcteat and bear against the udder.; The

lower end ofthe tube is fixed to the shell by the nipple 7 having the tapered portion 7 placed within the lowerend of the tube and pressed in to effect a tight engagement with the lower tapered wall or seat of the shell. This nipple is adapted for engagement with the suction pipe. The ring (i and the nipple 7 are readily withdrawn from their frictional engagements within the tube ends and the several parts thus quickly separated and separately cleaned without diii'iculty owing to their plain, simple and open characteristics.

ln-tlie form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the tubular shell 10 has the inwardly` tapered or outwardly expanded end walls or seats 1l` and 11. and the intermediate wall l2 expanded or lying farther from the-axis of the shell than thccontracted ends of the seats. The soft rubber tube 5 has its upper end engaged within the seat 11 by the vtapered portion 6 oi the ring 6 wedged therein and the lower end of the tube is engaged within the seat 11 by the wedging action of the tapered port-ion. 7 of the nipple 7. The nipple 13 1s xed to the shell and communicates by the port 12, formed in the wall-12, with the air' chamber A12 which is formed by this wall around the tube 5.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the tubular shell 15 has the inA Wardly tapered end seats 16 4and 16 suitably `formed by turning in the ends of a metalv Atube. The rubber tube has an end thereof engaged Within the "seat 16 by the tapered part 6 of the ring and-the lower end of lill) llt) the tube is engaged within the seat 16 the tapered part 7 of the nipple 7.

the shell, with` the air chamber 1 5 which is vformed by the wall around the tube 5..

` In each 'of the foregoing constructions, the one piece shell, with its tapered hd seats and its body lportion expanded beyond them', combines with the flexible .inner tube and the conical end members to form a cup having parts'whicbcan b engagedin assem bled relation-by merely pressing into position the end pieces and which can be' dissociated by disengaging such pieces.A .In each ofthe forms an air chamber extends around the inner tube, in constantly open communication with the air nipple, whereby free pneumatic action upon the tube can be eiected at all times.

As the rubber tube is the only part of the cup which deteriorates by use and time and i as it is preferably a plain cylindrical section,

which .may be of commercial character, it

can be renewed readily andat'sllght cost.

Having described-'my invention, I claim: l. A teatoup comprisin a shell having tapered. end Seats, 'a exib e tube disposed within said shell, devices having tapered parts for fixing the ends of said'tube within theends of said shell, and a passage communicating with the interior of said shellA exterior to said tube.

nipple 17 is fixed, tothe shell and communicates by the port 15", formed in the wall ofl ,2. Aoteat. comprising a tubular shell having tapered 'end seats, a flexible tube disposedwithin said shell, a ring having a tapered part for holdin@r anendof said tube within an end .-'Seat o? said shell, and .a nipple having a 'tapered part for holding an end of said tube .wit-hin an end yseat of said shell. i

3'. A teat cup comprisinga shell having an 'expanded intermediate section, a duct communicatin with said section, a flexible tube within said shell, Aand means for lxing' the ends 4of said tube to the ends of 'said .shell, said expanded portion forming a chamberaround said tube and communicating with said duct.

4. A teat cup. comprising-a shell having end seats, a tube disposed within said shell, a--ring having means for frictionally engaging an .end of'said tube to one of sa idfend seats, a nipple having means for frictionally engaging an endl-of said tube to the other of ysaid end seats, said shell having an inter- 

